This post is the best guide for postpartum essentials and optimal healing.
Having the appropriate postpartum essentials during your transition to motherhood makes a world of difference in your postpartum experience.
You have your nursery all set, all new clothes and goodies for when the baby arrives, and there’s anticipation for postpartum.
Are you all set for what you need to succeed as a new mama?
I promise that having a Pinterest-ready nursery is not the end-be-all of an excellent postpartum experience.
I bet you won’t use the nursery for the first few months out of convenience.
You are in the home stretch, an exciting but stressful time.
You have no idea how it’s going down; all you can do is wait.
Ensuring you have the proper postpartum supplies to help support you through this challenging stage is essential.
Finding the proper postpartum necessities can be difficult. However, I only needed a few fundamental materials at the end of the day.
Less is more, I found.
I needed only a few material things at the end of the day.
Of course, many things are helpful for postpartum.
This post will cover the postpartum essentials that helped me feel my best the fastest!
The Best Postpartum Essentials
These 25 best postpartum essentials will help you heal fast and return to feeling like your normal self as soon as possible. Postpartum is no joke; these helped me heal super fast!
1. A Third Body to Help You Transition With Baby Those First Few Weeks
Regarding postnatal care, having a third person during those first three weeks can make a massive difference during your adjustment period as a mother.
This can be a big ask and super hard for some people.
However, this is one of the most helpful tips I have received.
My family lives across the country, so I asked my mom if she would stay with us and help during the first few weeks while we got a grip.
I do not know how I would have gotten through those first three weeks without another pair of hands and my husband helping.
My husband and I were up almost all night every night for the first week with a baby with an undiagnosed lactose sensitivity (she was crying from 7 pm-1 am straight that first week.
That wouldn’t mean she fell back asleep, though. She would wake up a couple of hours later.
As miserable as the nights were for that first couple of weeks, my mom could take the morning shift at 7 am, enabling us to go to bed and sleep.
She would help clean, do laundry, cook food, watch my daughter, feed her, and give us the ultimate support we needed during that time.
While trying to get your footing again after the baby arrives, having someone to help with the essential yet mundane work that needs to be done takes a load off of two stressful new parents.
It helps you focus on what is essential, bonding with the baby.
No need to worry about a pile of dishes in the sink or no clean clothes to wear.
A third party can take care of everything so you can get back your rest and balance!
When she left after a few weeks, we had gotten into a little groove and were more confident with our new arrival.
We sent her a bouquet to her house when she returned home to say thank you.
Whether it be a family member, a friend, or even a postpartum nurse, I strongly suggest getting someone to stay with you for the first 2-4 weeks to help you heal from childbirth and get your bearings on motherhood.
Postpartum nurses have care packages you can pick to meet your needs.
Could you imagine having a nurse for the baby that comes in for a handful of nights a week so you can get rest?
Even if it means you are saving up money from the second you found out you were pregnant to hire a postpartum nurse; I promise it will be some of the best money you have ever spent.
I suggest putting a donation jar on your registry to hire a baby nurse for postpartum help.
2. Frida Mom Postpartum Recovery Essentials Kit
If you are about to be a first-time mom, his Frida Postpartum Essentials Recovery kit is great for first-time moms.
It has a variety of supplies you may need during your recovery.
- Upside Down Peri Bottle
- Ice Maxi Pads
- Perennial Healing Foam
- Postpartum Undies
- Perennial Cooling Liner Pads
- Socks
- Delivery/Nursing Gown
- Travel Bag
I got everything separately because I didn’t think I would need it all.
After all, the hospital was supposed to provide us with some similar essentials but to be honest; they weren’t nearly as good.
That’s why I ended up buying it all anyway.
If you’re going to be a mom for the first time, the Frida Mom Postpartum Recovery Essentials kit is great and way cheaper than buying the products in the kit separately.
3. Postpartum Girdle Compression Wear
It is said to help:
- Reduce Postpartum Swelling
- Reduce Excess Fluids
- Aid in organs moving back into place
- Reduce your uterus back to its original size.
- Supports closing of the abdominal muscles
- Alleviate Back Pain
There are tons of these waist trainers and postpartum girdles.
I got this 3 in 1 Postpartum Belly band on Amazon, and It was a game changer with my pooch.
Any compression band will work by giving you the belly bind you need.
You don’t have to spend much money to get decent results.
If you’re an expecting first-time mom, I have to tell you after you have your baby, you will still most likely look around six months pregnant.
It takes some time for the uterus to shrink to its standard size as it excretes more fluid and blood.
This is generally an African and Indian practice for women recovering from birth.
Some people also view it as postpartum waist training.
The compression wear helps by putting pressure back against your abdomen to help the uterus heal by expelling more blood and fluid.
I loved wearing it.
After feeling so big and stretched for months, it felt nice to have a hug around me all the time, and my belly looked slightly normal.
Every time I took it off, I would have already reduced 1-2 inches each time, no joke.
Not only that, but I started to feel better about my body image.
By about four weeks postpartum, my stomach was back to normal.
I attribute it to compression and this postpartum girdle!
Other Compression Girdles I Recommend:
- Postpartum Girdle C-Section Recovery Belt Great for mamas healing with a C-section.
- Belly Bandit Postpartum Luxe Belly Wrap A splurge for the highest quality postpartum girdles.
4. Super Absorbent Pads
Since you went so long without your period, you have around a 3-8 week long period headed your way soon.
After birth, you bleed and release a ton of fluid you have been carrying for months.
It will feel like a super long period.
You may also have some clotting as well.
For me, what was helpful were the most absorbent pads you can find.
I used these Stay Free Overnight Absorbent Pads built for multi-fluid protection.
They’re cheap, and they work.
Some people like to use this absorbent underwear to put the pad on, and you can do this.
I did, and it was comfortable and helpful.
However, I never bled enough to where I needed the absorbent undies and could have gone without.
Everyone is different, though.
It doesn’t hurt to get a little batch of them initially, and if you feel like you need more, that’s the way to go.
I had so many of these undies and use them now for heavy period days to get rid of them.
I found the pads to be much more helpful than the underwear.
They will also be helpful when you finally have your 1st postpartum period.
Other Maxi Pads I Recommend:
- Always Maxi Extra Heavy. I love the Always brand and use them for my regular cycles, and their Maxi Pads are stellar!
- Rael Organic Cotton Pads. Rael’s Extra Long Overnight Pads are great if you want a more organic pad.
Related Reading: 5 Common Bodily Postpartum Healing Challenges
5. Pink Stork Postpartum Mood Support Vitamins
Your hormones are going to tank after delivery.
It will hit you like a bag of bricks. Any sort of mood enhancement is helpful during those very trying early postpartum weeks.
Pink Stork Postpartum Mood Support is one of the best health supplements for postpartum mood disorders.
I found a massive difference In my mood while taking it.
It is generally used to help with depression, anxiety, and weight loss.
I can’t describe how much better my mood is when taking it.
I’m still taking it.
It helps take the edge off.
It gave me more stamina, energy, patience, and bandwidth to care for my daughter.
If I stop taking it for a few days, I notice a substantial increase in my overall mood.
I’m more irritable, short-tempered, and testy.
Not very good feelings.
When you look at the ingredients, the main active ingredient is almost ALWAYS Ashwagandha.
I strongly suggest having it in your stash before the baby comes.
It will be a lifesaver.
Before discharge, I asked my doctor if It was safe for me (I did not breastfeed), and he said it was fine and to keep an eye on my mood.
If you struggle with depression or anxiety, it is best to have this in your kit after birth!
Other Postpartum Supplements I Recommend:
- Ashwagandha Extra Strength 3000mg. A cheaper option for mood-enhancing supplements that is effective and won’t break anyone’s bank!
- 5-HT Plus with Co-Factor B6 200mg. This phenomenal cortisol reducer is still part of my wellness regimen to keep my anxiety at bay!
6. Tucks Pads
Tucks pads are a staple for hemorrhoid healing and postpartum soothing.
You can expect the hospital to give you a small stash during your visit, but you will need more.
They are like little cotton pads you must line up on your postpartum pad to help soothe your vulva and labia.
The tucks pads are especially helpful if you underwent an episiotomy or tore, as I did.
It will help you heal faster and keep the area clean.
They are super cheap, and you most likely will only need a couple of boxes during your fourth trimester, depending on the state of any injuries you obtained during labor.
7. Sitz Bath Salt
Partaking in a Sitz bath is a postpartum must.
Your lady bits down under took a beating whether you tore, had an episiotomy, or not; they need some TLC!
Containing natural herbs and essential oils, I attribute this Sitz bath to my healing so quickly.
I had a second-degree tear and frequently felt the second I would poop, I would rip a new a**hole.
This Sitz bath, along with using Witch Hazel, helped my lady bits soothe and heal, leaving that gross tearing worry in the past.
Also, placing your bum and lady bits in warm water is relaxing.
Not only is it important for your healing, but also part of your self-care.
Related Reading: 15 Best Ways to Strengthen Your Marriage After Baby
8. Yoni Steam Herbs
I LOVED this Yoni Steam.
I am a firm believer in Yoni Steams and the amazing benefits they contain for vaginal health.
Not everyone is into it, but African cultures have used yoni steams to recover from postpartum for decades.
The herbs in yoni steam can be incredibly soothing and may help discharge the lochia and blood remaining in your uterus.
I believe my use of the Yoni steam helped my postpartum bleeding immensely.
By week four, on the dot, I was no longer bleeding.
The less you have to deal with the postpartum bleeding, the better.
I had a rotation of using the Yoni steam and sitz bath, and using these in conjunction helped my lady bits externally and internally come back to equilibrium.
Not to mention it’s an incredibly soothing experience!
Looking at how to heal your uterus naturally? A Yoni steam can be helpful; it helped me!
9. Sitz Bath Toilet Seat
Now that you have a Sitz and Yoni steam formula, you need something to hold all that in!
You don’t need anything fancy; a simple seat is fine without the bells and whistles.
I used this one for both my Yoni Steams and Sitz Baths.
Clean it after each use, and you’re golden!
10. Dermoplast Pain Spray
You will receive a small bottle of Dermoplast at the hospital; however, it won’t last long!
This guy is a must-have for your lady bits.
Especially if you tore or had an episiotomy, it helps heal minor cuts, scratches, and burns.
Even if you didn’t tear, you still were stretched beyond belief, and you WILL be sore regardless.
The Dermoplast will surely become a staple in your postpartum healing process, and it’s cheap!
11. FridaBaby Healing Foam
Perineal pain after birth is likely, and if you chose not to get the full FridaBaby Postpartum kit mentioned earlier, no worries, I didn’t either; I just cherry-picked what I felt I needed from it.
Like this Perineal Foam!
Perineum tear healing can be complicated, and this was a staple in my postpartum recovery.
The foam is a nice and gentle consistency, and If my lady bits could talk, every time I applied this foam, they would say, ” Ahhhhhh.”
You feel clean and know it’s helping you heal and feel better.
Add a few squirts on your pad as the last step, and you’re good!
Witch hazel for perineal care is a must for postpartum essentials girls.
Other Perineal Foam Cleansers I Recommend:
12. Peri Bottle
If you don’t have a bidet ( which you totally need, you will NEVER go back once you do ), you need a Peri bottle!
Even though I had a bidet installed in my toilets long before I got pregnant, the water pressure was often too strong for my injured lady bits after giving birth.
So I still got a Peri Bottle!
I loved this one for its angled spout; I could really get into all the nooks and crannies of my down belows!
It’s also great for travel; I promise, once you use this, you will never be able to use simple toilet paper to clean yourself up again.
If you don’t get a bidet after you’re healed, I can promise you will never want to poop or pee again without one of these bad boys!
A definite must-have!
Other Peri-Bottles I Recommend:
- Frida Mom Peri-Bottle. Another great angled peri-bottle experience.
- Popped Portable Peri-Bottle. A smaller and more discreet option for peri-bottles and a complete steal!
13. Reusable Perineal Cooling Pads
You can use disposable Cooling Pads, but this is the way to go if you want to reduce waste!
Also hilariously described as a vagina ice pack, you place the gel pads in the freezer and rotate them out as you use them.
Trust me; your p***y will be on fire and not the good kind Drag Queens say on RuPaul’s Drag Race when feeling fierce on the runway.
You will struggle to walk for some days and will be so sore.
The cooling sensation will be soothing and help draw blood to the area to help heal.
Other Cooling Pads I Recommend:
- Frida Mom Disposable Cooling Pads. These are great ready-to-use disposable pads; crack them, then go!
- Lansinoh Reusable Hot and Cold Pads. Complete with disposable sleeves; you can use this reusable pad for hot or cold.
14. Memory Foam Donut Pillow
Remember how sore I said you will be even if you don’t tear?
If you tear, have an episiotomy or endured hemroids during your pregnancy, or got them while pushing, you will NEED a pillow to sit on.
This was something I wish I had postpartum.
I used a goofy plastic inflatable that wasn’t nearly big or cushy enough for my sore lady bits and butt.
Even though I didn’t breastfeed, I still sat a ton to bottle feed AND for contact naps and to allow my daughter to sleep on me at night.
You need to give your lady bits a chance to breathe, and if they are subject to your full weight while breastfeeding or bottle feeding, it will be painful, but it may take longer for the injuries to heal and the swelling to go down.
Give your hoo-ha and butt a break; get a memory foam pillow!
15. Robe
I don’t know about you, but I didn’t want to wear any real clothes for weeks after giving birth.
Nothing tight or snug ( other than my belly band .)
I had a few robes I had on rotation during my postpartum period.
It was comfortable, warm, and soft.
The robe gave my body the freedom and space to heal and kept me snug and warm.
It made for easy bathroom visits and the ability to keep easy access to my lady bits.
Other Robes I Recommend:
- Nursing Nightgown. A breezy nightgown that is loose and cozy on you with easy access for breastfeeding baby!
- Lightweight Kimono. A great, cozy, and loose kimono robe that will give you the breathing room you need and quick breastfeeding access.
16. Postpartum Recovery Tea
I’m a huge fan of Pink Stork products.
I used a lot of their supplements and teas while pregnant and postpartum.
The Pink Stork postpartum healing tea was a great treat during my fourth trimester.
I made it part of my morning routine to get me going for the day.
Add honey and collagen powder to heal and have a great morning tea.
Healing starts from within, so flooding your body with herbs and vitamins to help heal is essential during your fourth-trimester journey.
I attribute much of my swift recovery to this tea!
17. Vital Proteins Marine Collagen
Did you know that collagen plays a huge part in our skin’s ability to recover and heal itself?
Collagen helps repair damaged tissues by letting our skin know it needs to produce more skin cells to turn over the damaged ones.
So not only is collagen awesome for a beauty supplement, but it’s essential for skin or tissue injury.
We all know how busted or lady bits get after birth.
Adding collagen to your diet during postpartum is a great way to aid your body’s healing process.
I believe the collagen helped me heal faster than I would have otherwise.
Other Collagen Peptides I Recommend:
- Hydrolyzed Collagen Peptide Proteins. Engineered for sports recovery and not beauty, these collagen peptides are formulated to help your body repair after a heavy workout or aka LABOR.
- Grass Fed Collagen Peptide Proteins. This grass-fed cow collagen is an effective alternative if you don’t want fish in your collagen.
18. Perineal Balm
Once your lady bits have had some time to heal, your bleeding has subsided, and you feel you are on the other side of your healing journey, it helps to keep it going with some perineal balm!
Earth Mama Organic Perineal Balm is a great product for healing while you are out of the thick and your lady bits aren’t so sensitive anymore.
You can graduate from Perineal Foam to a balm!
Keep your labia and vulva on the road to recovery by adding some daily healing balm to ensure it stays healthy and happy!
19. Postpartum Uplift Tea
Pink Stork is at it again!
Their Postpartum Uplift Tea is a great mood enhancer during your fourth trimester.
If taking supplements is difficult for you, taking a natural mood enhancement via tea is an easier option and a much more zen-like experience.
A perfect morning tea to start your day; you will feel a difference in your mood when you drink this tea.
This tea was part of my Pink Stork rotation, greatly impacting my overall well-being.
Keeping it on a subscription is the best way to go if you find out it really helps!
20. Magnesium
If you’ve read my 7 Best Pregnancy Constipation Relief Practices and 15 Best Baby Constipation Remedies, you’ll know how essential a magnesium-rich diet is for regularity and overall health.
Magnesium, a muscle relaxer, can help your colon relax and activate the natural peristalsis needed to move poops along the digestive tract.
You will find magnesium is a great way to relieve constipation.
Why it’s important during your first trimester is one: You will be sore AF, so having magnesium in your diet will help with that, but two: your hoo-ha and butthole will be tender AF, so having soft poops you don’t have to work so hard to push out will make all the difference in your postpartum bathroom experience.
Keep your poops soft and regular using magnesium!
21. The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother
If you’re a meal prepper, you will love this one!
In The First Forty Days, the author Heng Ou goes over the importance of our diet during postpartum, the relationship challenges we may face, and helps us rediscover the importance of slowing down and taking care of ourselves during the fourth trimester in an era where modern moms are pressured to bounce back.
Discover the foods and meal plans to help you heal optimally so that you can focus on recovery.
Getting the book before your due date so you can meal prep the recipes and put them in your freezer so you don’t have to worry about it once the baby comes.
Delicious food to help nourish you, and the baby will be ready to eat!
22. Organic Cotton Disposable Underwear
Postpartum underwear is a must during your recovery. I know these aren’t the cutest, but my goodness, do they get the job done!
I used this Rael Organic underwear and then add one of my maxi pads to it, and I never had any leaks during postpartum recovery. They’re affordable and comfortable around your bikini lines while recovering!
Other Postpartum Underwear I Recommend:
- Frida Mom Disposable Underwear. Contains eight briefs or boyshorts!
- Always Discreet Incontinence & Postpartum Underwear. If you want to feel and look cuter with your postpartum undies!
23. Tylenol Extra Strength
Labor and birth are no joke; you will need pain medication to help you rest, heal, and care for your baby. We don’t want to feel like we’ve been hit by a train, sleep deprived, and need to tend to baby.
Other Pain Killers I Recommend:
24. Colace
Taking that first postpartum poop, I’m not going to lie, is one of the scarier aspects of postpartum! Even though it’s extremely unlikely, you feel like your stitches are about to rip from your V to your A with the slightest push or pressure!
This makes having that first poop a mental barrier to leap over, and making your poops soft helps! If the magnesium supplements aren’t making your poops soft enough as it is and you haven’t taken your first postpartum poop, having Colace on hand is super beneficial!
25. Wipes
My husband and I are avid users of wipes in general for bathroom visits, so we had baby wipes on hand anyway. I promise you will want to use some of your LO’s baby wipes to keep yourself clean while healing postpartum. These guys are simple, unscented, and will keep you clean.
Other Wipes I Recommend:
- Honey Pot Anti-Itch Medicated Wipes. If you want to go the medicated route!
- Summer’s Eve Sensitive Skin Cleaning Clothes. I am a huge lover of Summer’s Eve and always have their wipes, cleansers, and sprays on hand!
Finding the Proper Postpartum Supplies
As crazy as it is, we have many options to try and create a postpartum experience that is as smooth sailing as possible.
Hiccups and mistakes are going to happen; it is normal.
Postpartum consists of going to hell and back numerous times a day.
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you will feel everything in between!
You will get through this, mama! It won’t last forever!
I will continue to make lists of practices and products that helped me through the fourth trimester (it’s a lot, like preparing for battle).
Remember, the fourth trimester is temporary, and you will get through this!
Preparation is key! Just like you prepare for birth, prepare for postpartum.
It’s essential!
Good luck, new mamas. This season too shall pass.
